Tub shower spray diverter

ABSTRACT

An upstanding flange is provided for support from a shower enclosure having an open side and the flange generally parallels the medial plane of the open side of the enclosure and projects into the opening defined thereby. A lower portion of the flange includes a slot formed therein opening through the marginal edge portion projecting into the enclosure opening and the inner end of the slot is disposed at a higher elevation than the open end thereof and the slot is of a width to snugly receive the corresponding edge portion of a curtain drawn across the opening of the shower enclosure.

United States Patent 1191 Giarrante 1111 3,895,399 1 July 22, 1975 [54] TUB SHOWER SPRAY DIVERTER 1211 Appl. No.: 460,485

[52] US. Cl. 4/149; 4/153; 4/154; 160/349 D [51] Int. Cl A47k 3/22 [58] Field of Search 4/145, 148, 149, 154, 153, 4/155; 160/349, 349 D 3,808,610 5/1974 Mortensen 4/149 Primary Examiner-Henry K. Artis Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT An upstanding flange is provided for support from a shower enclosure having an open side and the flange generally parallels the medial plane of the open side of the enclosure and projects into the opening defined thereby. A lower portion of the flange includes a slot formed therein opening through the marginal edge portion projecting into the enclosure opening and the [56] References cued inner end of the slot is disposed at a higher elevation UNITED STATES PATENTS than the open end thereof and the slot is of a width to 1,807,107 5/1931 Sternbergh. 4/145 snugly receive the corresponding edge portion of a f); gaggiano 2 curtain drawn across the opening of the shower enclo- 2, 03,5 1 4 ous 4 3,104,014 9/1963 Piette v 4/154 x Sure 3,737,921 6/1973 Baumrind v. 4/148 16 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures l6 6 1 l u II F .I l A."

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I l I I 1 k I 1 J 1 5 /0 l \i 1 I 1% 1 3g f u l\ /4 l 1 I /Z l 26 24 TUB SHOWER SPRAY DIVERTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Shower enclosures, and particularly those incorporating a tub and utilizing a shower curtain drawn across the open side of the shower enclosure are subject to water flowing or splashing out of the enclosure around the ends of the associated shower curtain, even though the shower curtain has its lower marginal portion wholly within the tub portion. Various structures have heretofore been designed for the purpose of providing a more efficient barrier to water flowing or being splashed from a shower enclosure. Some of these structures are disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 2,049,061, to J. A. Hoegger, Sr.. dated July 28, 1938, No. 2,761,150, to N. H. Kellogg. dated Sept. 4, 1956, No. 2,748,908, to G. L Jacobson, et al.. dated June 5, 1956, and No. 3,205,547, to N. B. Riekse. dated Sept. 14, 1965.

While some of these devices have been at least somewhat efficient in preventing water flowing or spraying from shower enclosures, these previous devices require special shower curtains or panels and/or special shower curtain vertical edge portions as well as specifically constructed wall mounted brackets. These previously patented devices have not met with commercial success. partly due to their initial cost and/or their complex manner of use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The shower spray diverter of the instant invention is utilized in conjunction with a conventional shower curtain and comprises a one piece flange semipermanently mounted at one side edge portion of the open side of a shower enclosure. The flange or flange member is supported from the corresponding wall of the enclosure in a manner such that the flange projects into the open side of the enclosure and has its lower end abutted against and sealed relative to the corresponding end of the upper marginal edge portion of the outer side of the associated tub component. The lower end of the flange is provided with a slot opening through the free vertical edge portion thereof and the inner end of the slot is disposed at a higher elevation than the lower end thereof opening through the free edge of the flange. The slot is of a width to snugly receive the corresponding marginal portion of the associated shower curtain therein. In this manner. the flange itself functions to prevent substantially all water spray within the associated end of the shower enclosure from passing around the associated end of the shower curtain. which end of the shower curtain is disposed on the outside of the flange. In addition. should any spray from within the shower enclosure find its way to the inner surface of the shower curtain disposed outwardly of the flange above the slot therein in which the shower curtain is frictionally retained, when this spray has collected sufficiently on the inner surface of the shower curtain to run down along the latter as soon as the water rolling down the inner surface of the curtain reaches that portion of the curtain passing through the slot. it is deflected inwardly by the portion of the curtain passed through the slot and back into the shower enclosure below the upper marginal portion of the corresponding side of the tub component of the shower enclosure.

It is therefore the main object of this invention to provide an inexpensive structure which may be utilized in conjunction with substantially any tub shower enclosure and a conventional shower curtain for substantially entirely preventing any spray from within the shower enclosure from passing around the associated end of the corresponding shower curtain.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object is to provide a tub shower spray diverter which may not only be used in conjunction with shower enclosures having separate tub components therein. but also in conjunction with the more recently developed integral shower enclosures wherein the three wall portions of the shower enclosure are formed integrally with the tub component thereof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a tub shower spray diverter which itself may be integrally molded as a part of a one-piece shower and tub enclosure.

An ancillary object of this invention is to provide a device in accordance with the preceding objects that may be readily formed to define a sturdy hand grip for assisting a person entering or exiting from the associated tub shower enclosure.

Another ancillary object of this invention is to provide an apparatus also constructed in a manner to provide a conveniently usable soap dish.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a device in accordance with the preceding objects and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture. be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible. long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside inthe details ofconstruction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed. reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof. wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional tub shower enclosure with a first form of spray diverter constructed in accordance with the present invention operatively associated with opposite side areas of the open side of the tub shower enclosure and with one end of the associated shower curtain operatively engaged with the corresponding spray diverter;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the other spray diverter illustrated in FIG. 1 and with the shower curtain in a fully extended position and operatively engaged with the slot in the other spray diverters;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the spray diverter illustrated in FIG. 2 as seen from the left side thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section of a view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of a view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a onepiece tub and shower enclosure with a spray diverter of the instant invention integrally formed therewith; and

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the

numeral generally designates a conventional tub and shower enclosure including opposite end walls 12 and 14 interconnected along their rear marginal edge portions by means of a rear wall 16. A conventional shower curtain rod 18 extends between and is supported from the end walls 12 and 14 and supports a conventional flexible and water impervious shower curtain 20 by means of a plurality of spaced rings 22 slidable along the rod 18.

The lower portion of the enclosure 10 includes a tub component 24 extending lengthwise between the walls 12 and 14 and including an outer side 26.

Conventionally, the curtain 20 is drawn to the right as viewed in FIG. 1 of the drawings in order to at least somewhat effectively prevent spray from the shower from falling outside the tub component 24. However, the use of a hot water spray in a shower stall can cause sufficient air currents to blow either end of the shower curtain 20 out of position and once either end of the shower curtain has been blown out of position, its misposition may not be noticed by the user of the enclosure 10 with the result that considerable quantities of water flow outwardly of or spray from the enclosure 10 onto the floor 28 outside the tub component 24, even though the lower marginal portion of the curtain 22 may still be disposed within the tub component 24.

The first form of spray diverter illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings is generally referred to in general by the reference numeral 30 and includes an upstanding flange 32 having an upstanding free edge portion 34 and an opposite upstanding base edge portion 36. The flange 32 is positioned with its base edge portion 36 closely opposing the end wall 14 and its free edge portion 34 projecting into the opening of the shower enclosure 10 defined above the upper marginal edge portion 38 of the outer side 26 of the tub component 24. The lower end of the flange 32 is abutted against the upper marginal edge portion 38 at the end thereof abutted against the end wall 14 of the enclosure 10 and the base edge portion 36 of the flange 32 includes a right angle base flange 40 which overlies the end wall 14, is adhered thereto in any convenient manner such as by adhesive 42 and projects toward the back wall 16 of the enclosure 10. The flanges 32 and 40 each extend the full length of the diverter 30 and the lower ends of the flanges 32 and 40 are interconnected by means of a generally triangular horizontal web 44 formed integrally with the flanges 32 and 40 and extending therebetween. In addition. the upper end portions of the flanges 32 and 40 are interconnected by means of a generally rectangular horizontal web 46 formed integrally with and extending between the flanges 32 and 40 and a third generally horizontal web 48 of generally rectangular plane shape is formed integrally with and extends between the flanges 32 and 40 a spaced distance below the web 46. The central area of the web 48 is depressed as at 50 and provided with a central drain aperture 52. Of course. the web 48 is provided to form a convenient soap dish and is at least partially protected from spray from above by the web 46 disposed thereabove. Also, the free edge portion of the flange 32 is provided with a vertical slot 54 spaced slightly inwardly of the free edge 34 and centrally intermediate 4 the upper an dgloweren ds ofthe flange 32 and defines a convenient hand grip.

The lowerend'po'rtion of the flange 32 is provided with aslot 56, audit ,will be seen that the slot 56 is inclined with its inner, end disposed'uppermost and its lower end openingthr oughthe free edge 30 a distance spaced slightly above the lower end of the flange 32. The slot 56 is of a width adaptecl to snugly receive the corresponding edge .portion SS of the curtain 20 therein in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings, and it will be appreciated that the snugness of the slot 56 is sufficient to frictionally retain the edge portion 58 of curtain 2( within this slot 56 against accidental dislodgment from the slot 56.

If it is desired, a spray diverter referred to in general by the reference numeral 60 and comprising a substantial mirror duplicate of the diverter 30 may be used at the opposite endof the tub component 24 and adhered to the end wall 12 of the enclosure 10. Thus, both vertical edge portions of the curtain 20 may be engaged in the slots provided in the diverters 30 and 60 when the tub shower enclosure is in use.

In operation, inasmuch as the ends .of the curtain 20 will be disposed outside the spray diverters 30 and 60 above the inclined slots formed therein, the spray diverters themselves will prevent substantially all spray from passing outwardly of the enclosure 10 around the ends of the curtain 20. However, should any strong sprays of water pass behind the diverters 60 and cause water to collect on the inner surfaces of the ends of the curtain disposed outwardly of the diverters 30 and 60 above the inclined slots therein. this collected water will eventually roll down the inner surfaces of the ends of the curtain 20 and be diverted inwardly by those portions of the ends of the curtain passing through the inclined slots 56.

From FIG. 1 of the drawings it will be seen that the inclined slots are slightly arcuate in configuration and arranged so=as to be upwardly convex.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIGS.

6 and 7 of the drawings there will be seen a one-piece molded shower enclosure referred to in general by the reference numeral 10' and including components corresponding to the various components of the enclosure 10. The variouscomponents of the enclosure 10' find ing counterparts in the enclosure 10 are designated by corresponding prime .numerals. Thus, it may be seen that the flange 32 of the diverter 30' illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 is formed integrally with the end wall 14' and that there is therefore no need to provide a base flange, such as the flange 40, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings. Further, inasmuch as the lower end of the flange 32' is formed integrally with the upper marginal edge portion 38' of the outer side 26', there is no need to provide a web corresponding to the web 44. However. webs 46' and 48' corresponding to the webs 46 and 48 are provided and a slot. 54 corresponding to the slot 54 is also provided. Of course. the diverter 30 is formed as an integral portion of the end wall 14' of the enclosure 10 and it is to be understood that a diverter corresponding to the diverter,60,will be;provided on the enclosure 10' as an integral portion of the 'endwall' thereof opposing the end war-11 14 and corresponding to the end wall 12 of the enclosure 10, I I

The foregoing is coii'sider' ed as illustrative only of the principles of thein'veiit'io n. Further. since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art. it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a shower enclosure including an upright structural member defining one upright side of an entrance and exit opening for said enclosure and a spray diverting curtain supported for movement of one upstanding edge portion thereof toward and away from said side across said opening, said structural member having flange means associated therewith defining an upstanding flange projecting at least slightly into said opening and having an upstanding free edge portion and a slot formed in a lower end portion of said free edge portion opening through the latter and of a width to snugly receive the corresponding portion of said curtain upstanding edge portion therein.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said slot is inclined with its outer open end disposed at a lower elevation.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said slot is arcuate and upwardly convex.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said shower enclosure defines an open sided recess, a tub structure disposed in said recess and including an outer side wall portion having an upper marginal edge portion defining the lower marginal portion of said opening.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said flange means comprises an upstanding flange member which, throughout a major portion of its horizontal dimension paralleling the plane of said opening overlies the corresponding end portion of said upper marginal edge.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein the lower end of said flange means rests upon and is supported from said upper marginal edge position.

7. The combination of claim 5 wherein said enclosure includes opposite end walls having front and rear upstanding edge portions and interconnected along their rear upstanding edge portions by means of a rear wall extending therebetween.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said tub structure, walls and flange means are formed integrally with each other.

9. The combination of claim 7 wherein said flange means includes an upstanding base edge portion opposite said free edge portion and abutted against and sealed relative to the corresponding end wall of said enclosure.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said base edge portion includes an integral generally right angle flange extending therealong projecting toward said rear wall and overlying and sealed relative to said corresponding end wall.

11. The combination of claim 10 including a generally horizontal web extending between and secured to the-adjacent sides of upper the end portion of said flanges.

12. The combination of claim 1 wherein said upstanding free edge portion includes a generally vertical slot formed therethrough spaced slightly inwardly from the free edge thereof defining a hand grip.

13. For use with a shower enclosure of the type including an upright structural member defining one side of an entrance and exit opening for said enclosure and having a curtain supported for movement of one upstanding edge portion thereof toward and away from said side across said opening. upstanding flange means including opposite upstanding base and free edge portions said flange means being adapted to be mounted relative to said enclosure with the flange means generally paralleling the plane of said opening and with said free edge portion projecting into said opening and said base edge portion at least substantially sealed relative to said one side of said entrance opening. the lower portion of the free edge portion including a slot formed therein opening through said free edge portion and of a width adapted to snugly receive the corresponding portion of said one upstanding edge portion of said curtain.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said slot is inclined with its outer open end disposed at a lower elevation.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said slot is arcuate and upwardly convex.

16. The combination of claim 15 wherein said base edge portion includes an integral right angle flange. and a generally horizontal web extending between and secured to adjacent sides of the upper portion of said 

1. In combination with a shower enclosure including an upright structural member defining one upright side of an entrance and exit opening for said enclosure and a spray diverting curtain supported for movement of one upstanding edge portion thereof toward and away from said side across said opening, said structural member having flange means associated therewith defining an upstanding flange projecting at least slightly into said opening and having an upstanding free edge portion and a slot formed in a lower end portion of said free edge portion opening through the latter and of a width to snugly receive the corresponding portion of said curtain upstanding edge portion therein.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said slot is inclined with its outer open end disposed at a lower elevation.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said slot is arcuate and upwardly convex.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said shower enclosure defines an open sided recess, a tub structure disposed in said recess and including an outer side wall portion having an upper marginal edge portion defining the lower marginal portion of said opening.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said flange means comprises an upstanding flange member which, throughout a major portion of its horizontal dimension paralleling the plane of said opening overlies the corresponding end portion of said upper marginal edge.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein the lower end of said flange means rests upon and is supported from said upper marginal edge position.
 7. The combination of claim 5 wherein said enclosure includes opposite end walls having front and rear upstanding edge portions and interconnected along their rear upstanding edge portions by means of a rear wall extending therebetween.
 8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said tub structure, walls and flange means are formed integrally with each other.
 9. The combination of claim 7 wherein said flange means includes an upstanding base edge portion opposite said free edge portion and abutted against and sealed relative to the corresponding end wall of said enclosure.
 10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said base edge portion includes an integral generally right angle flange extending therealong projecting toward said rear wall and overlying and sealed relative to said corresponding end wall.
 11. The combination of claim 10 including a generally horizontal web extending between and secured to the adjacent sides of upper the end portion of said flanges.
 12. The combination of claim 1 wherein said upstanding free edge portion includes a generally vertical slot formed therethrough spaced slightly inwardly from the free edge thereof defining a hand grip.
 13. For use with a shower enclosure of the type including an upright structural member defining one side of an entrance and exit opening for said enclosure and having a curtain supported for movement of one upstanding edge portion thereof toward and away from said side across said opening, upstanding flange means including opposite upstanding base and free edge portions said flange means being adapted to be mounted relative to said enclosure with the flange means generally paralleling the plane of said opening and with said free edge portion projecting into said opening and said base edge portion at least substantially sealed relative to said one side of said entrance opening, the lower portion of the free edge portion including a slot formed therein opening through said free edge portion and of a width adapted to snugly receive the corresponding portion of said one upstanding edge portion of said curtain.
 14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said slot is inclined with its outer open end disposed at a lower elevation.
 15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said slot is arcuate and upwardly convex.
 16. The combination of claim 15 wherein said base edge portion includes an integral right angle flange, and a generally horizontal web extending between and secured to adjacent sides of the upper portion of said flange means and said right angled flange. 